UA website photo causes stir

Some claim the hand of the African-American man does not match the pigmentation of his face. (Source: UA website)

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

A photo on the University of Alabama homepage is leading many to believe the head of an African-American man was digitally placed over the body of a Caucasian man. Critics of the picture site a hand that has lighter skin pigmentation than the face of the African-American man.

Shane Dorrill, a media relations representative at the university, said it is University policy not to Photoshop, or alter a photo in any way. Dorrill maintains the photo is not Photoshopped or altered. He said heavy commercial lighting was used, giving the impression of a lighter-colored hand.

The photo was brought to a photography and editing expert in North Alabama, who was asked if, in their opinion, the photo was edited or if lighting could be to blame. The expert said it is possible that lighting could change the color in a photo. However, they said determining whether something is Photoshopped is essentially impossible, especially if the Photoshop job is a really good one.

"Per our policy, students were not inserted or "Photoshopped" into the graduation photo on http://UA.edu . The photo is unaltered."

We also found tweets from a man claiming to be the man in the picture (http://bit.ly/1aaCOm6) saying the photo was not altered. David Jackson told sister station WBRC that he posed for the picture back in 2012, and also appeared in a video promoting the Capstone. He told WBRC he wanted to speak out in order to put the online chatter to rest.